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			{{Short description\|Turkish weightlifter (1967–2017)}}
	{{Infobox sportsperson		{{Infobox sportsperson
	\| name = Naim Süleymanoğlu		\| name = Naim Süleymanoğlu
			\| image =
	\| image = Naim Süleymanoğlu 1989 Paraguay stamp.jpg
			\| alt = A man in a blue leotard lifting weights.
	\| image_size =
			\| caption = Süleymanoğlu in 1996
	\| alt =
			\| nickname = ''The Pocket Hercules''
	\| caption = Naim Süleymanoğlu on a Paraguayan stamp
			\| nationality = ]
	\| nickname = ''The Pocket Hercules''
			\| citizenship = ]<br>]
	\| nationality = ]
			\| birth_name = Naim Syuleymanov
	\| ethnicity =
			\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1967\|1\|23\|df=y}}{{citation needed\|date=August 2022}}
	\| citizenship =
			\| birth_place = ], ], ]
	\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1967\|1\|23\|df=y}}
			\| death_date = {{death date and age\|2017\|11\|18\|1967\|1\|23\|df=y}}
	\| birth_place = Ptichar, ] municipality, ], ]
			\| death_place = ], ]
	\| death_date = {{death date and age\|2017\|11\|18\|1967\|01\|23\|df=y}}
			\| years_active = 1982–2000
	\| death_place = ], ]
			\| height = {{convert\|1.47\|m\|ftin\|abbr=on}} (2000)
	\| years_active = 1985–2000
	\| ~~height~~ = {{convert\|~~1.47~~\|m\|~~ftin~~\|abbr=on}} (2000)		\| weight = {{convert\|62\|kg\|lb\|abbr=on}} (2000)
			\| website = <!-- {{URL\|www.example.com}} -->
	\| weight = {{convert\|62\|kg\|lb\|abbr=on}} (2000)
			\| country = {{flagicon\|BUL}} ] (1977–1986)<br /> {{flagicon\|TUR}} ] (1986–2000)
	\| website = <!-- {{URL\|www.example.com}} -->
			\| sport = ]
	\| country = ] (1983–1986)<br />] (1986–2000)
			\| event = 56 kg (1983), 60 kg (1985–1992), 64 kg (1993–1996), 62 kg (2000)
	\| sport = ]
			\| turnedpro = 1983
	\| event = 56 kg (1983), 60 kg (1985–1992), 64 kg (1993–1996), 62 kg (2000)
			\| retired = 2000
	\| turnedpro = 1983
			\| pb = {{unbulleted list\|'''Snatch''': 152.5 kg (1988, '''WR''') \|'''Clean & Jerk''': 190.0 kg (1988, '''WR''') \|'''Total''': 342.5 (1988, '''WR''') }}
	\| retired = 2000
			\| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry\|{{TUR}}}}
	\| worlds =
			{{MedalCompetition \|]}}
	\| regionals =
			]
	\| nationals =
			{{MedalGold\|]\|]}}
	\| olympics =
			{{MedalGold\|]\|]}}
	\| pb = {{unbulleted list\|'''Snatch''': 152.5 kg (1988, '''WR''') \|'''Clean & Jerk''': 190.0 kg (1988, '''WR''') \|'''Total''': 342.5 (1988, '''WR''') }}
			{{MedalGold\|]\|]}}
	\| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry\|{{TUR}}}}
	{{MedalCompetition\|]}}
	{{MedalGold\|]\|]}}
	{{MedalGold\|]\|]}}
	{{MedalGold\|]\|]}}
	{{MedalCompetition\|]}}		{{MedalCompetition\|]}}
	{{MedalGold\|]\|-60 kg}}		{{MedalGold\|]\|-60 kg}}
Line 39:		Line 36:
	{{MedalGold\|]\|-64 kg}}		{{MedalGold\|]\|-64 kg}}
	{{MedalCompetition\|]		{{MedalCompetition\|]
			{{MedalGold\|]\|-60 kg}}
			{{MedalGold\|]\|-60 kg}}
	{{MedalGold\|]\|-64 kg}}		{{MedalGold\|]\|-64 kg}}
	{{MedalGold\|]\|-64 kg}}		{{MedalGold\|]\|-64 kg}}
	{{~~MedalBronze~~\|]\|-64 kg}}		{{MedalSilver\|]\|-60 kg}}
			{{MedalBronze\|]\|-62 kg}}
	{{MedalCountry\|{{BUL}}}}		{{MedalCountry\|{{BUL}}}}
	{{MedalCompetition\|]}}		{{MedalCompetition\|]}}
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	{{MedalGold\|]\|-60 kg}}		{{MedalGold\|]\|-60 kg}}
	{{MedalSilver\|]\|-56 kg}}		{{MedalSilver\|]\|-56 kg}}
			{{MedalCompetition\|]}}
			{{MedalGold\|]\|-56 kg}}
			{{MedalGold\|]\|-60 kg}}
			{{MedalGold\|]\|-60 kg}}
			{{MedalSilver\|]\|-56 kg}}
			{{MedalCompetition\|]}}
			{{MedalGold\|1982 Sao Paulo\|-52 kg}}
			{{MedalCompetition\| IWF World Cup Final}}
			{{MedalGold\|1984 Sarajevo\|-56 kg}}
			{{MedalGold\|1985 Monte Carlo\|-60 kg}}
			{{MedalCompetition\| IWF World Cup Winner}}
			{{MedalGold\|1984 Sarajevo\|-56 kg}}
			{{MedalGold\|1985 Monte Carlo\|-60 kg}}
			{{MedalGold\|1986 Melbourne\|-60 kg}}
	{{MedalCompetition\|]}}		{{MedalCompetition\|]}}
	{{MedalGold\|]\|]}}		{{MedalGold\|]\|]}}
	}}		}}
			}}
	\| show-medals =
	\| updated = 28 October 2014}}

			'''Naim Süleymanoğlu''' ({{langx\|bg\|Наим Сюлейманоглу}}; 23 January 1967 – 18 November 2017)<ref name="zeit">{{cite web \|url=https://www.zeit.de/news/2017-11/18/sport-allgemein-westentaschen-herkules-naim-sueleymanoglu-gestorben-18135403 \|title=Sport Allgemein: „Westentaschen-Herkules“ Naim Süleymanoglu gestorben \|publisher=]-Meldung auf ] \|date=2017-11-18\|accessdate=2024-12-17\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031519/http://www.zeit.de/news/2017-11/18/sport-allgemein-westentaschen-herkules-naim-sueleymanoglu-gestorben-18135403\|archive-date=2017-12-01\|language=de}}</ref><ref name="welt">{{cite web \|url=https://www.welt.de/sport/article170727963/Tiefe-Trauer-um-Westentaschen-Herkules.html \|title=Tiefe Trauer um „Westentaschen-Herkules“ \|date=2017-11-18 \|work=welt.de \|language=de \|access-date=2024-12-17}}</ref> was a ] ]. He was a seven-time ] and a three-time ] who set 46 world records. At 147 cm in height, Süleymanoğlu's short stature and great strength led to him being nicknamed "Pocket Hercules". He is widely considered as one of the greatest Olympic weightlifters of all time, with many calling him the best pound-for-pound weightlifter in the history of weightlifting.
	'''Naim Süleymanoğlu''' (23 January 1967 – 18 November 2017), born in ] as '''Naim Suleimanov''', was a Turkish world and Olympic Champion in ], who was nicknamed “The Pocket Hercules” because of his small stature of {{convert\|1.47\|m\|ftin\|abbr=on}}. In the ], he set a record by lifting 190 kg in the ].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/su/naim-suleymanoglu-1.html\|title=Biography of Naim Süleymanoğlu\|last=\|first=\|date=\|website=www.sports-reference.com\|accessdate=August 7, 2014}}</ref> He was awarded the ] in 2001. In 2000 and 2004, he was elected a member of the ] ].<ref name="auto">{{cite web\|url=http://www.iwf.net/iwf/organization/members.php\|title=Weightlifting Hall of Fame\|publisher=International Weightlifting Federation\|accessdate=2008-08-07\|deadurl=yes\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913235844/http://www.iwf.net/iwf/organization/members.php\|archivedate=2008-09-13\|df=}}</ref>

			At the ], Süleymanoğlu set multiple world records in the featherweight division in the ], ], and total.<ref name = sportsreference>{{cite web\|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/su/naim-suleymanoglu-1.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417235946/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/su/naim-suleymanoglu-1.html\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=April 17, 2020\|title=Biography of Naim Süleymanoğlu\|website=www.sports-reference.com\|access-date=August 7, 2014}}</ref> Following the 1988 Summer Olympics, he made the cover of '']'' magazine. Süleymanoğlu went on to win Olympic gold in 1992 and 1996. He was awarded the ] in 2001. In 2000 and 2004, he was elected as a member of the ] ].
	Süleymanoğlu is the first and only weightlifter to have ] 2.5 times his body weight and also is the second of only seven lifters to date to ] three times his body weight.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.olympic.org/naim-suleymanoglu \|title=Naim Suleymanoglu \|publisher=www.olympic.org \|accessdate=}}</ref> He is the only weightlifter to date to clean and jerk 10 kilos more than triple his bodyweight.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.chidlovski.net/liftup/a_club_3xbwt.asp \|title=Who in the world has ever lifted three times their body weight? \|work=chidlovski.net}}</ref>

			==Early life In Bulgaria, early career, and defection to Turkey==
	== Biography ==
			]
	===Early life===
	Süleymanoğlu was born ~~as Naim Syuleymanov (]: Наим Сюлейманов)~~ in ], ], ] to an ethnic ]. His father was a miner who stood only five feet tall, while is mother was four-foot-seven.<ref name="NYTObit">{{cite news \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/22/obituaries/naim-suleymanoglu-50-dies-weight-liftings-pocket-hercules.html? \|title=Naim Suleymanoglu, 50, Dies; Weight ~~Lifting’s~~ ~~‘Pocket~~ ~~Hercules’~~ \|last=Sandomir \|first=Richard \|newspaper=New York Times \|date=2017-11-22}}</ref> He ~~won~~ ~~championships~~ in his teens and ~~may~~ have ~~competed~~ at the ] had Bulgaria not joined in a ] by the Eastern ~~Bloc~~.<ref name="Olympic">{{cite web \|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/suleymanoglu-lifts-weights-and-hearts-with-extraordinary-hat-trick \|title=Suleymanoglu Lifts Weights and Hearts with Extraordinary Hat-Trick \|publisher=olympic.org \|date=1988-09-22}}</ref>		Süleymanoğlu was born in ], ], ]. His father was a miner who stood only five feet tall, while his mother was four-foot-seven.<ref name="NYTObit">{{cite news \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/22/obituaries/naim-suleymanoglu-50-dies-weight-liftings-pocket-hercules.html? \|title=Naim Suleymanoglu, 50, Dies; Weight Lifting's 'Pocket Hercules' \|last=Sandomir \|first=Richard \|newspaper=New York Times \|date=2017-11-22}}</ref> He set a world weightlifting record during his teens<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web\|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-07-29-9203080122-story.html\|title='POCKET HERCULES' LIFTS TURKEY TO NEW HEIGHTS\|first=Phil \|last=Hersh \|work=Chicago Tribune\|date=29 July 1992 }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web\|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/life/turkey-commemorates-weightlifting-legend-suleymanoglu/1649063\|title=Turkey commemorates weightlifting legend Suleymanoglu\|website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref> and would have been an overwhelming favorite to win gold at the ] had Bulgaria not joined in a ] by the Eastern Block.<ref name="Olympic">{{cite web \|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/suleymanoglu-lifts-weights-and-hearts-with-extraordinary-hat-trick \|title=Suleymanoglu Lifts Weights and Hearts with Extraordinary Hat-Trick \|publisher=olympic.org \|date=1988-09-22}}</ref>

	In the 1980s, ~~Bulgaria’s~~ government implemented a program called the ] which required ethnic minorities to adopt Slavic names and barred their languages.<ref> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235751/http://www.imir-bg.org/imir/books/malcinstvena%20politika.pdf \|date=2007-09-26 }} ''(Bulgarian). By Ulrich Büchsenschütz''. International Center for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations, 2000. Retrieved 26 May 2012.</ref> As a result, Süleymanoğlu ~~changed~~ his name to Naum Shalamanov (]: Наум Шаламанов) in 1985.<ref name="NYTObit" />		In the 1980s, Bulgaria's government implemented a program called the ] which required ethnic minorities to adopt Slavic names and barred their languages.<ref> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235751/http://www.imir-bg.org/imir/books/malcinstvena%20politika.pdf \|date=2007-09-26 }} ''(Bulgarian). By Ulrich Büchsenschütz''. International Center for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations, 2000. Retrieved 26 May 2012.</ref> As a result, Süleymanoğlu was forced to change his name to Naum Shalamanov (]: Наум Шаламанов) in 1985. He decided to leave Bulgaria after these experiences and he conducted encrypted correspondence with Turkish Squad during the period.<ref name="NYTObit" /><ref>{{Cite web\|last=\|first=\|date=\|title=The Revival Process and Naim Süleymanoğlu\|url=https://www.socratesdergi.com/oral-history/the-man-who-lifts-the-world-naim-suleymanoglu/\|access-date=2021-01-21\|website=}}</ref>

	While on a trip to the World Cup Final in ] in 1986, ~~Suleimanov~~ escaped his handlers, and after several days in hiding, he defected at the Turkish Embassy in ]. After making his way to ], he changed his name to Süleymanoğlu.<ref name="NYTObit"/>		While on a trip to the World Cup Final in ] in 1986, Süleymanoğlu escaped his handlers, and after several days in hiding, he defected at the Turkish Embassy in ]. When Embassy officials reported the situation to ], The Prime Minister ordered him to be brought at once. He landed in London first, where he was transferred into a private jet to fly into Istanbul and Ankara eventually. After making his way to ], he changed his name back to Süleymanoğlu.<ref name="NYTObit"/>

			In 2012, Süleymanoğlu said, "Against all the odds, I've never been nostalgic. After being treated with such attitude, you wouldn't regret it. The Bulgarians changed the names of 2 million people by force. It was a very difficult period. People who witnessed the events would know. I wouldn't change any of the decisions I took that day in my life. Even if I could set back the clock, I would still escape Bulgaria. Because as the Turkish people, we were too hard-pressed in Bulgaria."<ref>{{Cite news\|last=\|first=\|date=\|title=Interview with Naim Süleymanoğlu\|work=\|url=https://www.eurosport.com.tr/halter-1/hic-pisman-oldu-mu_sto3142239/story.shtml\|access-date=2021-01-21}}</ref>
	===Career===
	In order for him to compete at the ] the Bulgarian government had to agree to release his eligibility to Turkey. The Turks paid Bulgaria $1 million for his release.<ref name="Olympic" /> At the Olympics, Süleymanoğlu did not disappoint, winning the featherweight gold medal. His performance was high enough to win the weight class above his.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/su/naim-suleymanoglu-1.html \|title=Naim Suleymanoglu Bio, Stats and Results \|publisher=www.sports-reference.com}}</ref> He retired at the age of 22, after winning the world championship in 1989. However, he returned in 1991 before winning a second Olympic gold medal at ] in 1992.

			==Olympic competition==
	The ] were to be his swan song and he retired after winning a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in ] at the ]. That competition was noted for the rivalry between himself and Greece's ], with the arena divided into partisan Turkish and Greek crowds. At the end of the competition they were the very last competitors remaining as they traded three straight world-record lifts; Süleymanoğlu managed to raise 187.5 kg and then Leonidis failed in his attempt to lift 190 kg, which guaranteed ] the silver medal. Announcer Lynn Jones proclaimed "You have just witnessed the greatest weightlifting competition in history," according to Ken Jones in the London Independent.<ref>. sportsillustrated.cnn.com</ref><ref>. Sports.jrank.org. Retrieved on 2014-08-10.</ref><ref>. Nytimes.com (1996-07-22). Retrieved on 2014-08-10.</ref><ref>. Encyclopædia Britannica</ref>
			In order for Süleymanoğlu to compete at the ], the Bulgarian government had to agree to release his eligibility to Turkey. The Turks paid Bulgaria $1.25 million for his release.<ref name="Olympic" />

			At the Olympics, Süleymanoğlu competed in the featherweight division.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/naim-suleymanoglu\|title=Naim Süleymanoğlu\|website=Olympics.com}}</ref> His main competition was his old teammate from the Bulgarian team, ]. He came out for the snatch portion of the competition after all other athletes had finished and made three consecutive lifts, setting world records in his last two attempts. In the clean and jerk portion, Topurov completed a 175.0 kg clean and jerk after Süleymanoğlu. With his next two lifts, Süleymanoğlu set two more world records and won his first Olympic gold. His last lift was a 190.0 kg clean and jerk that was 3.15 times his body weight,<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-21-sp-2312-story.html\|title=THE SEOUL GAMES / DAY 5 : YOU NAME IT, HE LIFTS IT : Suleymanoglu Sets 3 World Records, Gives Turkey 1st Weightlifting Gold\|newspaper=LA Times\|date=21 September 1988 \|access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref> which is the highest ratio clean and jerk to body weight of all time. Using the ], his performance at the ] was the most dominating weightlifting performance of all time.<ref>{{cite book\|author=Ledder, Glenn \|title=Mathematics for the Life Sciences: Calculus, Modeling, Probability, and Dynamical Systems\| page=16 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0VeRAAAAQBAJ\|date=29 August 2013\|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media\|isbn=978-1-4614-7276-6}}</ref> His total was high enough to win the weight class above his.<ref name = sportsreference /> After the 1988 Summer Olympics, Süleymanoğlu appeared on the cover of '']'' magazine.<ref name="auto"/> The 4'10" Süleymanoğlu's "diminutive size and stunning strength"<ref name="NYTObit" /> led to him being nicknamed "Pocket Hercules".<ref name="auto2"/><ref name="auto"/><ref name="NYTObit" />
	Süleymanoğlu made another comeback in a late attempt to earn a fourth gold medal at the ] in Sydney, which would have been an Olympic record, but failed three attempts at 145 kg<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.iat.uni-leipzig.de/datenbanken/dbgwh/daten.php?spid=8B704154894647AAA92FF00BF26A11F2 \|title=Süleymanoglu Naim (TUR) \|publisher=www.iat.uni-leipzig.de \|accessdate=}}</ref> and was eliminated from the competition. He was awarded the ] in 2001. In 2000 and 2004, he was elected member of the ] ].<ref name="auto"/>

			Süleymanoğlu retired from weightlifting at the age of 22 after winning the world championship in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/sports/2017/09/27/legendary-weightlifter-suleymanoglu-fights-for-life\|title=Legendary weightlifter Süleymanoğlu fights for life\|first=Daily Sabah with\|last=AA\|date=September 27, 2017\|website=Daily Sabah}}</ref> However, he returned to the sport in 1991<ref name="auto2"/> and won a second Olympic gold medal in ] in 1992.<ref name="NYTObit" /> He retired after winning a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in ] at the ]. That competition was noted for the rivalry between Süleymanoğlu and Greece's ], with the arena divided into partisan Turkish and Greek crowds. At the end of the competition, they were the last competitors remaining as they traded three straight world-record lifts. Süleymanoğlu managed to raise 187.5 kg, and then Leonidis failed in his attempt to lift 190 kg which earned Süleymanoğlu the gold medal. In a show of sportsmanship Süleymanoğlu embraced Leonidis, who had broken down in tears. Announcer Lynn Jones proclaimed, "You have just witnessed the greatest weightlifting competition in history," according to Ken Jones of ''The Independent''.<ref>. sportsillustrated.cnn.com</ref><ref>. Nytimes.com (1996-07-22). Retrieved on 2014-08-10.</ref><ref>. Encyclopædia Britannica</ref>
	At the 1999 general elections, he stood as an independent candidate to represent ] at the ]. In 2002, he was the candidate of the ] for the mayor of Kıraç municipality in ] district of ] and represented the same party in general elections in 2006. He was unsuccessful in all these attempts.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/pocket-hercules-olympic-weightlifting-champion-dead-50-1.4408869\|title='Pocket Hercules,' 3-time Olympic weightlifting champion, dies at 50 {{!}} CBC Sports\|work=CBC\|access-date=2018-01-30\|language=en-US}}</ref>

			Süleymanoğlu made another comeback in a late attempt to earn a fourth gold medal at the ] in Sydney, which would have been an Olympic record. However, he failed three attempts at 145 kg<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.iat.uni-leipzig.de/datenbanken/dbgwh/daten.php?spid=8B704154894647AAA92FF00BF26A11F2 \|title=Süleymanoglu Naim (TUR) \|publisher=www.iat.uni-leipzig.de }}</ref> and was eliminated from the competition.
	He suffered from ] of the liver for a long time.<ref name=hurriyetdailynews>{{cite web\|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/champion-turkish-weightlifter-suleymanoglu-dies-at-50-122624\|title=Champion Turkish weightlifter Süleymanoğlu dies at 50\|website=Hürriyet Daily News\|accessdate=19 November 2017}}</ref> In 2009, he was in hospital for nearly three months.<ref>http://www.novinite.ru/articles/26955/Брат+Наима+Сулейманоглу%3A+И+в+Болгарии+есть+люди%2C+которые+хотят+стать+донорами</ref>

			Süleymanoğlu is the first and only weightlifter to have ] 2.5 times his body weight and also is the second of only seven lifters to date to ] three times his body weight.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.olympic.org/naim-suleymanoglu \|title=Naim Suleymanoglu \|publisher=www.olympic.org }}</ref>{{failed verification\|date=September 2021}} He is the only weightlifter to date to clean and jerk 10 kilos more than triple his bodyweight.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.chidlovski.net/liftup/a_club_3xbwt.asp \|title=Who in the world has ever lifted three times their body weight? \|work=chidlovski.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| url=https://iwf.sport/2017/01/23/happy-birthday-to-naim-suleymanoglu/ \| title=Happy Birthday to Naim Süleymanoglu! \| date=23 January 2017 }}</ref>
	On 25 September 2017, he was admitted to a hospital due to the liver failure<ref name=hurriyetdailynews /> On 6 October, a ] was made when a liver donor was found.<ref name=hurriyetdailynews /> On 11 November, he had surgery due to a ] in the brain and a subsequent ]. He died on 18 November 2017.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2017/11/18/weightlifting-legend-naim-suleymanoglu-dies-at-age-50\|title=Weightlifting legend Naim Süleymanoğlu dies at age 50\|publisher=\|accessdate=19 November 2017}}</ref>

			Over the course of his career, Süleymanoğlu has won seven ] and three ], and set a total of 46 world records.<ref name="auto"/> He was awarded the ] in 2001.<ref name= DailySabah>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2017/11/18/weightlifting-legend-naim-suleymanoglu-dies-at-age-50\|title=Weightlifting legend Naim Süleymanoğlu dies at age 50\|first=Daily Sabah with\|last=AA\|date=November 18, 2017\|website=Daily Sabah}}</ref> In 2000 and 2004, he was elected a member of the ] ].<ref name="auto"/> Süleymanoğlu is widely considered to have been the best pound-for-pound Olympic weightlifter of all time, and one of the greatest Olympic weightlifters ever.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/09/20/Naim-Suleymanoglu-considered-pound-for-pound-the-worlds-best-weightlifter-shattered/7479590731200/\|title=Naim Suleymanoglu, considered pound-for-pound the world's best weightlifter, shattered...\|website=UPI}}</ref> He is regarded as a national hero in Turkey.<ref name="NYTObit" />

			==Political career==
			At the 1999 general elections, Süleymanoğlu stood as an independent candidate to represent ] at the ]. In 2002, he was the candidate of the ] for the mayor of Kıraç municipality in ] district of ]; he represented the same party in general elections in 2006. Süleymanoğlu was unsuccessful in each of these bids for public office.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/pocket-hercules-olympic-weightlifting-champion-dead-50-1.4408869\|title='Pocket Hercules,' 3-time Olympic weightlifting champion, dies at 50 {{!}} CBC Sports\|work=CBC\|access-date=2018-01-30\|language=en-US}}</ref>

			==Personal life and death==
			Süleymanoğlu suffered from ] of the liver.<ref name=hurriyetdailynews>{{cite web\|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/champion-turkish-weightlifter-suleymanoglu-dies-at-50-122624\|title=Champion Turkish weightlifter Süleymanoğlu dies at 50\|website=Hürriyet Daily News\|date=19 November 2017 \|access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref> In 2009, he was hospitalized for nearly three months.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.novinite.ru/articles/26955/\|title=Брат Наима Сулейманоглу: И в Болгарии есть люди, которые хотят стать донорами - Novinite.ru\|website=www.novinite.ru}}</ref>

			], ].]]
			On 25 September 2017, Süleymanoğlu was admitted to a hospital due to liver failure.<ref name=hurriyetdailynews /> On 6 October, a ] was made when a liver donor was found.<ref name=hurriyetdailynews /> On 11 November, he had surgery due to a ] in the brain and a subsequent ]. He died on 18 November 2017<ref name= DailySabah /> and was interred at the ] in Istanbul.<ref name="h1"/>

			After Süleymanoğlu's death, a movie about his life and career, ''Cep Herkülü: Naim Süleymanoğlu''<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9500372/\|title=Cep Herkülü: Naim Süleymanoğlu (2019)\|website=www.imdb.com\|language=en\|access-date=2020-02-08}}</ref> was released in Turkey on November 22, 2019.

			Süleymanoğlu's grave was opened on July 4, 2018 for the purpose of extracting a DNA sample. Following his death, a Japanese woman had claimed that her daughter, Sekai Mori, had been fathered by him, and filed a paternity case at a Turkish court.<ref name="h1"/> A DNA test confirmed the paternity claim.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2018/08/08/paternity-test-confirms-naim-suleymanoglus-japanese-daughter/\|title=Paternity test confirms Naim Süleymanoğlu's Japanese daughter\|publisher=Daily Sabah\|date=8 August 2018\|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref> Süleymanoğlu also had three daughters by a Turkish woman.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.posta.com.tr/naim-suleymanoglu-itiraf-ediyorum-gizledigim-4-cocugum-var-haberi-248424\|title=Naim Süleymanoğlu: İtiraf ediyorum, gizlediğim 4 çocuğum var!\|newspaper=Posta\|first=Canan\|last=Danyıldız\|date=19 November 2017\|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref>

	==Major results==		==Major results==
Line 99:		Line 127:
	! colspan=13 \| ]		! colspan=13 \| ]
	\|-		\|-
	\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|KOR}} ], ] \|\| ] \|\| 145.0 \|\| 150.5 ''']''' \|\| '''152.5 ]''' \|\| 1 \|\| 175.0 \|\| 188.5 ''']''' \|\| '''190.0 ]''' \|\| 1 \|\|'''342.5 ]''' \|\| '''{{gold1}}		\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|KOR}} ], ] \|\| ] \|\| 145.0 \|\| 150.5 ''']''' \|\| '''152.5 ]''' \|\| 1 \|\| 175.0 \|\| 188.5 ''']''' \|\| '''190.0 ]''' \|\| 1 \|\|'''342.5 ]''' \|\| '''{{gold1}}'''
	\|-		\|-
	\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|ESP}} ], ] \|\| ] \|\| '''142.5''' \|\| <s>153</s> \|\| <s>153</s> \|\| 1 \|\| 170 \|\| '''177.5''' \|\| -- \|\| 1 \|\|'''320''' \|\| '''{{gold1}}		\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|ESP}} ], ] \|\| ] \|\| '''142.5''' \|\| <s>153</s> \|\| <s>153</s> \|\| 1 \|\| 170 \|\| '''177.5''' \|\| — \|\| 1 \|\|'''320''' \|\| '''{{gold1}}'''
	\|-		\|-
	\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|USA}} ], ] \|\| ] \|\| 145 \|\| <s>147.5</s> \|\| '''147.5''' \|\| 1 \|\| 180 \|\| 185 \|\| '''187.5''' \|\| 1 \|\|'''~~330~~ ]''' \|\| '''{{gold1}}		\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|USA}} ], ] \|\| ] \|\| 145 \|\| <s>147.5</s> \|\| '''147.5''' \|\| 1 \|\| 180 \|\| 185 \|\| '''187.5''' \|\| 1 \|\|'''335 ]''' \|\| '''{{gold1}}'''
	\|-		\|-
	\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|AUS}} ], ] \|\| ] \|\| <s>145</s> \|\| <s>145</s> \|\| <s>145</s> \|\| -- \|\| \|\| \|\| \|\| \|\| \|\|		\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|AUS}} ], ] \|\| ] \|\| <s>145</s> \|\| <s>145</s> \|\| <s>145</s> \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| —
	\|-		\|-
	! colspan=13 \| ]		! colspan=13 \| ]
	\|-		\|-
	\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|USSR}} ], ] \|\| 60 kg \|\| '''130.0 ]''' \|\| -- \|\| -- \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''160.0''' \|\| -- \|\| -- \|\| {{bronze3}} \|\| '''290.0''' \|\| {{silver2}}		\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|USSR}} ], ] \|\| 56 kg \|\| '''130.0 ]''' \|\| — \|\| — \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''160.0''' \|\| — \|\| — \|\| {{bronze3}} \|\| '''290.0''' \|\| {{silver2}}
	\|-		\|-
	\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|SWE}} ], ] \|\| 60 kg \|\| '''~~142.5~~''' \|\| -- \|\| -- \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''180.0''' \|\| -- \|\| -- \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''322.5''' \|\| {{gold1}}		\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|SWE}} ], ] \|\| 60 kg \|\| '''143 ]''' \|\| — \|\| — \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''180.0''' \|\| — \|\| — \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''322.5''' \|\| {{gold1}}
	\|-		\|-
	\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|BUL}} ], ] \|\| 60 kg \|\| '''147.5 ]''' \|\| -- \|\| -- \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''~~187.5~~''' \|\| -- \|\| -- \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''335.5 ]''' \|\| {{gold1}}		\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|BUL}} ], ] \|\| 60 kg \|\| '''147.5 ]''' \|\| — \|\| — \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''188 ]''' \|\| — \|\| — \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''335 ]''' \|\| {{gold1}}
	\|-		\|-
	\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|GRE}} ], ] \|\| 60 kg \|\| 140.0 \|\| '''145.0''' \|\| -- \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| <s>172.5</s> \|\| '''172.5''' \|\| <s>192.5</s> \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''317.5''' \|\| {{gold1}}		\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|GRE}} ], ] \|\| 60 kg \|\| 140.0 \|\| '''145.0''' \|\| — \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| <s>172.5</s> \|\| '''172.5''' \|\| <s>192.5</s> \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''317.5''' \|\| {{gold1}}
	\|-		\|-
	\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|GER}} ], ] \|\| 60 kg \|\| 135.0 \|\| '''137.5''' \|\| <s>140.0</s> \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| 165.0 \|\| '''172.5''' \|\| <s>180.0</s> \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''310.0''' \|\| {{gold1}}		\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|GER}} ], ] \|\| 60 kg \|\| 135.0 \|\| '''137.5''' \|\| <s>140.0</s> \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| 165.0 \|\| '''172.5''' \|\| <s>180.0</s> \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''310.0''' \|\| {{gold1}}
	\|-		\|-
	\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|AUS}} ], ] \|\| 64 kg \|\| 140.0 \|\| '''145.0''' \|\| -- \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| <s>175.0</s> \|\| '''177.5 ]''' \|\| -- \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''322.5 ]''' \|\| {{gold1}}		\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|AUS}} ], ] \|\| 64 kg \|\| 140.0 \|\| '''145.0''' \|\| — \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| <s>175.0</s> \|\| '''177.5 ]''' \|\| — \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''322.5 ]''' \|\| {{gold1}}
	\|-		\|-
	\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|TUR}} ], ] \|\| 64 kg \|\| 142.5 \|\| 145.0 \|\| '''147.5 ]''' \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| 177.5 \|\| 181.0 \|\| '''182.5 ]''' \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''330.0 ]''' \|\| {{gold1}}		\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|TUR}} ], ] \|\| 64 kg \|\| 142.5 \|\| 145.0 \|\| '''147.5 ]''' \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| 177.5 \|\| 181.0 \|\| '''182.5 ]''' \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''330.0 ]''' \|\| {{gold1}}
	\|-		\|-
	\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|CHN}} ], ] \|\| 64 kg \|\| <s>145.0</s>\|\| 145.0 \|\| '''147.5''' \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''180.0''' \|\| <s>185.0</s> \|\| -- \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''327.5''' \|\| {{gold1}}		\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|CHN}} ], ] \|\| 64 kg \|\| <s>145.0</s>\|\| 145.0 \|\| '''147.5''' \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''180.0''' \|\| <s>185.0</s> \|\| — \|\| {{gold1}} \|\| '''327.5''' \|\| {{gold1}}
			\|-
			! colspan=13 \| ]
			\|-
			\| ] \|\| align=left \| {{flag icon\|BUL}} ], ] \|\| 56 kg \|\| '''132.5''' \|\| — \|\| — \|\| 1 \|\| '''165.0''' \|\| — \|\| — \|\| 1 \|\| '''297.5''' \|\| {{gold1}}
	\|-		\|-
	\|}		\|}
Line 129:		Line 161:
	== Career bests ==		== Career bests ==
	* ]: 152.5 kg in class to 60 kg.		* ]: 152.5 kg in class to 60 kg.
	* ]: 170.5 kg 1984 in ] in class to 56 kg.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://weightliftingexchange.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=50 \|title=World records from 1972 – 1992 \|~~accessdate~~=2009-10-09}}</ref>		* ]: 170.5 kg 1984 in ] in class to 56 kg.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://weightliftingexchange.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=50 \|title=World records from 1972 – 1992 \|access-date=2009-10-09}}</ref>
	* Clean and jerk: 190.0 kg in class to 60 kg.		* Clean and jerk: 190.0 kg in class to 60 kg.
	* Total: 342.5 kg (152.5 + 190.0) ] in class to 60 kg.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.chidlovski.net/liftup/l_galleryResult.asp?a_id=259 \|title=Naim Suleymanoglu \|work=chidlovski.net}}</ref>		* Total: 342.5 kg (152.5 + 190.0) ] in class to 60 kg.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.chidlovski.net/liftup/l_galleryResult.asp?a_id=259 \|title=Naim Suleymanoglu \|work=chidlovski.net}}</ref>
	*]: 504, in theory best lifter for size ever.<ref>{{cite book\|author=Ledder, Glenn \|title=Mathematics for the Life Sciences: Calculus, Modeling, Probability, and Dynamical Systems\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0VeRAAAAQBAJ\|date=29 August 2013\|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media\|isbn=978-1-4614-7276-6}}</ref>		*]: 504, in theory best lifter for size ever.<ref>{{cite book\|author=Ledder, Glenn \|title=Mathematics for the Life Sciences: Calculus, Modeling, Probability, and Dynamical Systems\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0VeRAAAAQBAJ\|date=29 August 2013\|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media\|isbn=978-1-4614-7276-6}}</ref>

	== References ==		== References ==
	{{Reflist\|35em}}		{{Reflist\|35em\|refs=
			<ref name="h1">{{cite news \|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/son-dakika-naim-suleymanoglunun-mezari-bugun-aciliyor-40885787 \|newspaper=] \|title=Naim Süleymanoğlu'nun mezarı açıldı \|date=4 July 2018 \|language=tr \|access-date=21 August 2019 }}</ref>
			}}

			<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Ridjah-Lifting-Weightlifting-Non-Padded-Powerlifting/dp/B09XQY7NWQ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1F2JVWVTX2AY6&keywords=ridjah&qid=1672655838&sprefix=ridjah%2Caps%2C431&sr=8-3&th=1/ref>

	== External links ==		== External links ==
	* {{Commons category-inline}}		* {{Commons category-inline}}

			==External links==
			* {{sports links}}

			{{Olympic medalists for Turkey}}
	{{Footer Olympic Champions Weightlifting Featherweight}}		{{Footer Olympic Champions Weightlifting Featherweight}}
	{{Footer World Weightlifting ~~Championships Champions~~ Featherweight}}		{{Footer World Champions Weightlifting Men Featherweight}}
	{{Authority control}}		{{Authority control}}

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Latest revision as of 20:57, 10 January 2025

Turkish weightlifter (1967–2017)

Naim Süleymanoğlu

Personal information

Birth name

Naim Syuleymanov

Nickname

The Pocket Hercules

Nationality

Turkish

Citizenship

Turkey
Bulgaria

Born

(1967-01-23)23 January 1967
Ptichar, Kardzhali Province, Bulgaria

Died

18 November 2017(2017-11-18) (aged 50)
Istanbul, Turkey

Years active

1982–2000

Height

1.47 m (4 ft 10 in) (2000)

Weight

62 kg (137 lb) (2000)

Sport

Country

Bulgaria (1977–1986)

Turkey (1986–2000)

Sport

Olympic weightlifting

Event(s)

56 kg (1983), 60 kg (1985–1992), 64 kg (1993–1996), 62 kg (2000)

Turned pro

1983

Retired

2000

Achievements and titles

Personal bests

Snatch: 152.5 kg (1988, WR)
Clean & Jerk: 190.0 kg (1988, WR)
Total: 342.5 (1988, WR)

Medal record

Representing Turkey

Olympic Games
	1988 Seoul	-60 kg
	1992 Barcelona	-60 kg
	1996 Atlanta	-64 kg
World Championships
	1989 Athens	-60 kg
	1991 Donaueschingen	-60 kg
	1993 Melbourne	64 kg
	1994 Istanbul	-64 kg
	1995 Guangzhou	-64 kg
European Championships
	1988 Cardiff	-60 kg
	1989 Athens	-60 kg
	1994 Sokolov	-64 kg
	1995 Warsaw	-64 kg
	1992 Szekszárd	-60 kg
	2000 Sofia	-62 kg
Representing Bulgaria
World Championships
	1985 Södertälje	-60 kg
	1986 Sofia	-60 kg
	1983 Moscow	-56 kg
European Championships
	1984 Vitoria	-56 kg
	1985 Katowice	-60 kg
	1986 Karl-Marx-Stadt	-60 kg
	1983 Moscow	-56 kg
World Junior Championships
	1982 Sao Paulo	-52 kg
IWF World Cup Final
	1984 Sarajevo	-56 kg
	1985 Monte Carlo	-60 kg
IWF World Cup Winner
	1984 Sarajevo	-56 kg
	1985 Monte Carlo	-60 kg
	1986 Melbourne	-60 kg
Friendship Games
	1984 Varna	-56 kg

Naim Süleymanoğlu (Bulgarian: Наим Сюлейманоглу; 23 January 1967 – 18 November 2017) was a Turkish Olympic weightlifter. He was a seven-time World Weightlifting champion and a three-time Olympic gold medalist who set 46 world records. At 147 cm in height, Süleymanoğlu's short stature and great strength led to him being nicknamed "Pocket Hercules". He is widely considered as one of the greatest Olympic weightlifters of all time, with many calling him the best pound-for-pound weightlifter in the history of weightlifting.

At the 1988 Summer Olympics, Süleymanoğlu set multiple world records in the featherweight division in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total. Following the 1988 Summer Olympics, he made the cover of Time magazine. Süleymanoğlu went on to win Olympic gold in 1992 and 1996. He was awarded the Olympic Order in 2001. In 2000 and 2004, he was elected as a member of the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame.

Early life In Bulgaria, early career, and defection to Turkey

Süleymanoğlu was born in Ptichar, Kardzhali Province, Bulgaria. His father was a miner who stood only five feet tall, while his mother was four-foot-seven. He set a world weightlifting record during his teens and would have been an overwhelming favorite to win gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics had Bulgaria not joined in a boycott by the Eastern Block.

In the 1980s, Bulgaria's government implemented a program called the Revival Process which required ethnic minorities to adopt Slavic names and barred their languages. As a result, Süleymanoğlu was forced to change his name to Naum Shalamanov (Bulgarian: Наум Шаламанов) in 1985. He decided to leave Bulgaria after these experiences and he conducted encrypted correspondence with Turkish Squad during the period.

While on a trip to the World Cup Final in Melbourne in 1986, Süleymanoğlu escaped his handlers, and after several days in hiding, he defected at the Turkish Embassy in Canberra. When Embassy officials reported the situation to Turgut Özal, The Prime Minister ordered him to be brought at once. He landed in London first, where he was transferred into a private jet to fly into Istanbul and Ankara eventually. After making his way to Istanbul, he changed his name back to Süleymanoğlu.

In 2012, Süleymanoğlu said, "Against all the odds, I've never been nostalgic. After being treated with such attitude, you wouldn't regret it. The Bulgarians changed the names of 2 million people by force. It was a very difficult period. People who witnessed the events would know. I wouldn't change any of the decisions I took that day in my life. Even if I could set back the clock, I would still escape Bulgaria. Because as the Turkish people, we were too hard-pressed in Bulgaria."

Olympic competition

In order for Süleymanoğlu to compete at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the Bulgarian government had to agree to release his eligibility to Turkey. The Turks paid Bulgaria $1.25 million for his release.

At the Olympics, Süleymanoğlu competed in the featherweight division. His main competition was his old teammate from the Bulgarian team, Stefan Topurov. He came out for the snatch portion of the competition after all other athletes had finished and made three consecutive lifts, setting world records in his last two attempts. In the clean and jerk portion, Topurov completed a 175.0 kg clean and jerk after Süleymanoğlu. With his next two lifts, Süleymanoğlu set two more world records and won his first Olympic gold. His last lift was a 190.0 kg clean and jerk that was 3.15 times his body weight, which is the highest ratio clean and jerk to body weight of all time. Using the Sinclair coefficient, his performance at the 1988 Seoul Olympics was the most dominating weightlifting performance of all time. His total was high enough to win the weight class above his. After the 1988 Summer Olympics, Süleymanoğlu appeared on the cover of Time magazine. The 4'10" Süleymanoğlu's "diminutive size and stunning strength" led to him being nicknamed "Pocket Hercules".

Süleymanoğlu retired from weightlifting at the age of 22 after winning the world championship in 1989. However, he returned to the sport in 1991 and won a second Olympic gold medal in Barcelona in 1992. He retired after winning a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in Atlanta at the 1996 Olympic Games. That competition was noted for the rivalry between Süleymanoğlu and Greece's Valerios Leonidis, with the arena divided into partisan Turkish and Greek crowds. At the end of the competition, they were the last competitors remaining as they traded three straight world-record lifts. Süleymanoğlu managed to raise 187.5 kg, and then Leonidis failed in his attempt to lift 190 kg which earned Süleymanoğlu the gold medal. In a show of sportsmanship Süleymanoğlu embraced Leonidis, who had broken down in tears. Announcer Lynn Jones proclaimed, "You have just witnessed the greatest weightlifting competition in history," according to Ken Jones of The Independent.

Süleymanoğlu made another comeback in a late attempt to earn a fourth gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, which would have been an Olympic record. However, he failed three attempts at 145 kg and was eliminated from the competition.

Süleymanoğlu is the first and only weightlifter to have snatched 2.5 times his body weight and also is the second of only seven lifters to date to clean and jerk three times his body weight. He is the only weightlifter to date to clean and jerk 10 kilos more than triple his bodyweight.

Over the course of his career, Süleymanoğlu has won seven World Weightlifting champion and three Olympic gold medals, and set a total of 46 world records. He was awarded the Olympic Order in 2001. In 2000 and 2004, he was elected a member of the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame. Süleymanoğlu is widely considered to have been the best pound-for-pound Olympic weightlifter of all time, and one of the greatest Olympic weightlifters ever. He is regarded as a national hero in Turkey.

Political career

At the 1999 general elections, Süleymanoğlu stood as an independent candidate to represent Bursa at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. In 2002, he was the candidate of the Nationalist Movement Party for the mayor of Kıraç municipality in Büyükçekmece district of Istanbul Province; he represented the same party in general elections in 2006. Süleymanoğlu was unsuccessful in each of these bids for public office.

Personal life and death

Süleymanoğlu suffered from cirrhosis of the liver. In 2009, he was hospitalized for nearly three months.

Grave of Naim Süleymanoğlu at Edirnekapı Cemetery, Istanbul.

On 25 September 2017, Süleymanoğlu was admitted to a hospital due to liver failure. On 6 October, a liver transplantation was made when a liver donor was found. On 11 November, he had surgery due to a hemorrhage in the brain and a subsequent edema. He died on 18 November 2017 and was interred at the Edirnekapı Martyr's Cemetery in Istanbul.

After Süleymanoğlu's death, a movie about his life and career, Cep Herkülü: Naim Süleymanoğlu was released in Turkey on November 22, 2019.

Süleymanoğlu's grave was opened on July 4, 2018 for the purpose of extracting a DNA sample. Following his death, a Japanese woman had claimed that her daughter, Sekai Mori, had been fathered by him, and filed a paternity case at a Turkish court. A DNA test confirmed the paternity claim. Süleymanoğlu also had three daughters by a Turkish woman.

Major results

Year	Venue	Weight	Snatch (kg)				Clean & Jerk (kg)				Total	Rank
Year	Venue	Weight	1	2	3	Rank	1	2	3	Rank	Total	Rank
Olympic Games
1988	Seoul, South Korea	60 kg	145.0	150.5 WR	152.5 WR	1	175.0	188.5 WR	190.0 WR	1	342.5 WR
1992	Barcelona, Spain	60 kg	142.5	~~153~~	~~153~~	1	170	177.5	—	1	320
1996	Atlanta, United States	64 kg	145	~~147.5~~	147.5	1	180	185	187.5	1	335 WR
2000	Sydney, Australia	62 kg	~~145~~	~~145~~	~~145~~	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
World Championships
1983	Moscow, Soviet Union	56 kg	130.0 WR	—	—		160.0	—	—		290.0
1985	Södertälje, Sweden	60 kg	143 WR	—	—		180.0	—	—		322.5
1986	Sofia, Bulgaria	60 kg	147.5 WR	—	—		188 WR	—	—		335 WR
1989	Athens, Greece	60 kg	140.0	145.0	—		~~172.5~~	172.5	~~192.5~~		317.5
1991	Donaueschingen, Germany	60 kg	135.0	137.5	~~140.0~~		165.0	172.5	~~180.0~~		310.0
1993	Melbourne, Australia	64 kg	140.0	145.0	—		~~175.0~~	177.5 WR	—		322.5 WR
1994	Istanbul, Turkey	64 kg	142.5	145.0	147.5 WR		177.5	181.0	182.5 WR		330.0 WR
1995	Guangzhou, China	64 kg	~~145.0~~	145.0	147.5		180.0	~~185.0~~	—		327.5
Friendship Games
1984	Varna, Bulgaria	56 kg	132.5	—	—	1	165.0	—	—	1	297.5

Career bests

Snatch: 152.5 kg in class to 60 kg.
Clean and jerk: 170.5 kg 1984 in Varna in class to 56 kg.
Clean and jerk: 190.0 kg in class to 60 kg.
Total: 342.5 kg (152.5 + 190.0) 1988 Summer Olympics in class to 60 kg.
Sinclair points: 504, in theory best lifter for size ever.

References

"Sport Allgemein: „Westentaschen-Herkules" Naim Süleymanoglu gestorben" (in German). sid-Meldung auf Zeit Online. 2017-11-18. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
"Tiefe Trauer um „Westentaschen-Herkules"". welt.de (in German). 2017-11-18. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
^ "Biography of Naim Süleymanoğlu". www.sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
^ Sandomir, Richard (2017-11-22). "Naim Suleymanoglu, 50, Dies; Weight Lifting's 'Pocket Hercules'". New York Times.
^ Hersh, Phil (29 July 1992). "'POCKET HERCULES' LIFTS TURKEY TO NEW HEIGHTS". Chicago Tribune.
^ "Turkey commemorates weightlifting legend Suleymanoglu". www.aa.com.tr.
^ "Suleymanoglu Lifts Weights and Hearts with Extraordinary Hat-Trick". olympic.org. 1988-09-22.
The Policies of the Bulgarian Communist Party towards Jews, Roma, Pomaks and Turks (1944-89) Archived 2007-09-26 at the Wayback Machine (Bulgarian). By Ulrich Büchsenschütz. International Center for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations, 2000. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
"The Revival Process and Naim Süleymanoğlu". Retrieved 2021-01-21.
"Interview with Naim Süleymanoğlu". Retrieved 2021-01-21.
"Naim Süleymanoğlu". Olympics.com.
"THE SEOUL GAMES / DAY 5 : YOU NAME IT, HE LIFTS IT : Suleymanoglu Sets 3 World Records, Gives Turkey 1st Weightlifting Gold". LA Times. 21 September 1988. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
Ledder, Glenn (29 August 2013). Mathematics for the Life Sciences: Calculus, Modeling, Probability, and Dynamical Systems. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-4614-7276-6.
AA, Daily Sabah with (September 27, 2017). "Legendary weightlifter Süleymanoğlu fights for life". Daily Sabah.
1996 Olympics Day 4. sportsillustrated.cnn.com
The New York Times: This Day In Sports. Nytimes.com (1996-07-22). Retrieved on 2014-08-10.
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Mount Olympus Meets the Middle Kingdom. Encyclopædia Britannica
"Süleymanoglu Naim (TUR)". www.iat.uni-leipzig.de.
"Naim Suleymanoglu". www.olympic.org.
"Who in the world has ever lifted three times their body weight?". chidlovski.net.
"Happy Birthday to Naim Süleymanoglu!". 23 January 2017.
^ AA, Daily Sabah with (November 18, 2017). "Weightlifting legend Naim Süleymanoğlu dies at age 50". Daily Sabah.
"Naim Suleymanoglu, considered pound-for-pound the world's best weightlifter, shattered..." UPI.
"'Pocket Hercules,' 3-time Olympic weightlifting champion, dies at 50 | CBC Sports". CBC. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
^ "Champion Turkish weightlifter Süleymanoğlu dies at 50". Hürriyet Daily News. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
"Брат Наима Сулейманоглу: И в Болгарии есть люди, которые хотят стать донорами - Novinite.ru". www.novinite.ru.
^ "Naim Süleymanoğlu'nun mezarı açıldı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 4 July 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
"Cep Herkülü: Naim Süleymanoğlu (2019)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
"Paternity test confirms Naim Süleymanoğlu's Japanese daughter". Daily Sabah. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
Danyıldız, Canan (19 November 2017). "Naim Süleymanoğlu: İtiraf ediyorum, gizlediğim 4 çocuğum var!". Posta. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
"World records from 1972 – 1992". Retrieved 2009-10-09.
"Naim Suleymanoglu". chidlovski.net.
Ledder, Glenn (29 August 2013). Mathematics for the Life Sciences: Calculus, Modeling, Probability, and Dynamical Systems. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-1-4614-7276-6.

<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Ridjah-Lifting-Weightlifting-Non-Padded-Powerlifting/dp/B09XQY7NWQ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1F2JVWVTX2AY6&keywords=ridjah&qid=1672655838&sprefix=ridjah%2Caps%2C431&sr=8-3&th=1/ref>

External links

Media related to Naim Süleymanoğlu at Wikimedia Commons

External links

Naim Süleymanoğlu at the International Weightlifting Federation
Naim Süleymanoğlu at the International Weightlifting Results Project
Naim Süleymanoğlu at IAT Database Weightlifting (in German)
Naim Süleymanoğlu at Olympics.com
Naim Süleymanoğlu at Olympedia

v t e Olympic medalists for Turkey
Gold medalists	Yaşar Erkan Nasuh Akar Gazanfer Bilge Celal Atik Yaşar Doğu Ahmet Kireççi Mehmet Oktav Hasan Gemici Bayram Şit Mithat Bayrak (2 titles) Mustafa Dağıstanlı (2 titles) Hamit Kaplan Müzahir Sille Tevfik Kış Ahmet Bilek Hasan Güngör İsmet Atlı Kazım Ayvaz İsmail Ogan Mahmut Atalay Ahmet Ayık Naim Süleymanoğlu (3 titles) Halil Mutlu (3 titles) Akif Pirim Hamza Yerlikaya (2 titles) Mahmut Demir Hüseyin Özkan Nurcan Taylan Taner Sağır Ramazan Şahin Servet Tazegül Taha Akgül Mete Gazoz Busenaz Sürmeneli
Silver medalists	Halit Balamir Adil Candemir Kenan Olcay Muhlis Tayfur Rıza Doğan İbrahim Zengin İsmail Ogan Hamit Kaplan Hüseyin Akbaş Hasan Güngör Ahmet Ayık Vehbi Akdağ Necmi Gençalp Hakkı Başar Kenan Şimşek Malik Beyleroğlu Şeref Eroğlu Bahri Tanrıkulu Atagün Yalçınkaya Azize Tanrıkulu Nur Tatar Daniyar Ismayilov Rıza Kayaalp Selim Yaşar Buse Naz Çakıroğlu (2 titles) Eray Şamdan Şevval İlayda Tarhan Yusuf Dikeç Hatice Akbaş
Bronze medalists	Ahmet Kireççi Halil Kaya Ruhi Sarıalp Adil Atan Dursun Ali Eğribaş Hüseyin Akbaş Hamit Kaplan Eyüp Can Turgut Aykaç Ayhan Taşkın Ali Kayalı Akif Pirim Hamide Bıkçın Adem Bereket Sedat Artuç Reyhan Arabacıoğlu Mehmet Özal Aydın Polatçı Yakup Kılıç Servet Tazegül Nazmi Avluca Rıza Kayaalp (2 titles) Yasmani Copello Cenk İldem Soner Demirtaş Nur Tatar Hakan Reçber Hatice Kübra İlgün Yasemin Adar Ferhat Arıcan Taha Akgül (2 titles) Ali Sofuoğlu Merve Çoban Uğur Aktaş Abdullah Yıldırmış Mete Gazoz Ulaş Tümer Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu Esra Yıldız Nafia Kuş

v t e Olympic Champions in Weightlifting – Men's Featherweight
1920: Frans De Haes (BEL) 1924: Pierino Gabetti (ITA) 1928: Franz Andrysek (AUT) 1932: Raymond Suvigny (FRA) 1936: Tony Terlazzo (USA) 1948: Mahmoud Fayad (EGY) 1952: Rafael Chimishkyan (URS) 1956: Isaac Berger (USA) 1960: Yevgeny Minayev (URS) 1964: Yoshinobu Miyake (JPN) 1968: Yoshinobu Miyake (JPN) 1972: Norair Nurikyan (BUL) 1976: Nikolay Kolesnikov (URS) 1980: Viktor Mazin (URS) 1984: Chen Weiqiang (CHN) 1988: Naim Süleymanoğlu (TUR) 1992: Naim Süleymanoğlu (TUR) 1996: Naim Süleymanoğlu (TUR) 2000: Nikolaj Pešalov (CRO) 2004: Shi Zhiyong (CHN) 2008: Zhang Xiangxiang (CHN) 2012: Kim Un-guk (PRK) 2016: Óscar Figueroa (COL) 2020: Chen Lijun (CHN) 2024: Li Fabin (CHN)
60 kg (1920–1992) 64 kg (1996) 62 kg (2000–2016) 67 kg (2020) 61 kg (2024–)

Olympic Champions in Weightlifting – Men's Featherweight

60 kg (1920–1992)
64 kg (1996)
62 kg (2000–2016)
67 kg (2020)
61 kg (2024–)

v t e World Champions in Weightlifting – Men's Featherweight
1906: Daniel de Lapalud (SUI) 1910 (I): Emil Kliment (AUT) 1911 (I): Alfred Anschütz (GER) 1911 (II): Emil Kliment (AUT) 1911 (III): Rudolf Thamme (GER) 1911 (IV): Emil Kliment (AUT) 1913: Emil Kliment (AUT) 1920: Eugen Wiedmann (GER) 1922: Heinrich Graf (SUI) 1923: Andreas Stadler (AUT) 1937: Georg Liebsch (GER) 1938: Georg Liebsch (GER) 1946: Arvid Andersson (SWE) 1947: Robert Higgins (USA) 1949: Mahmoud Fayad (EGY) 1950: Mahmoud Fayad (EGY) 1951: Said Khalifa Gouda (EGY) 1953: Nikolay Saksonov (URS) 1954: Rafael Chimishkyan (URS) 1955: Rafael Chimishkyan (URS) 1957: Yevgeny Minayev (URS) 1958: Isaac Berger (USA) 1959: Marian Zieliński (POL) 1961: Isaac Berger (USA) 1962: Yevgeny Minayev (URS) 1963: Yoshinobu Miyake (JPN) 1964: Yoshinobu Miyake (JPN) 1965: Yoshinobu Miyake (JPN) 1966: Yoshinobu Miyake (JPN) 1968: Yoshinobu Miyake (JPN) 1969: Yoshiyuki Miyake (JPN) 1970: Mieczysław Nowak (POL) 1971: Yoshiyuki Miyake (JPN) 1972: Norair Nurikyan (BUL) 1973: Dito Shanidze (URS) 1974: Georgi Todorov (BUL) 1975: Georgi Todorov (BUL) 1976: Nikolay Kolesnikov (URS) 1977: Nikolay Kolesnikov (URS) 1978: Nikolay Kolesnikov (URS) 1979: Marek Seweryn (POL) 1980: Viktor Mazin (URS) 1981: Beloslav Manolov (BUL) 1982: Yurik Sarkisyan (URS) 1983: Yurik Sarkisyan (URS) 1984: Chen Weiqiang (CHN) 1985: Naum Shalamanov (BUL) 1986: Naum Shalamanov (BUL) 1987: Stefan Topurov (BUL) 1989: Naim Süleymanoğlu (TUR) 1990: Nikolaj Pešalov (BUL) 1991: Naim Süleymanoğlu (TUR) 1993: Naim Süleymanoğlu (TUR) 1994: Naim Süleymanoğlu (TUR) 1995: Naim Süleymanoğlu (TUR) 1997: Xiao Jiangang (CHN) 1998: Leonidas Sabanis (GRE) 1999: Le Maosheng (CHN) 2001: Henadzi Aliashchuk (BLR) 2002: Im Yong-su (PRK) 2003: Halil Mutlu (TUR) 2005: Qiu Le (CHN) 2006: Qiu Le (CHN) 2007: Yang Fan (CHN) 2009: Ding Jianjun (CHN) 2010: Kim Un-guk (PRK) 2011: Zhang Jie (CHN) 2013: Chen Lijun (CHN) 2014: Kim Un-guk (PRK) 2015: Chen Lijun (CHN) 2017: Francisco Mosquera (COL) 2018: Chen Lijun (CHN) 2019: Chen Lijun (CHN) 2021: Doston Yokubov (UZB) 2022: Francisco Mosquera (COL) 2023: Chen Lijun (CHN) 2024: Ri Won-ju (PRK)
60 kg (1906–1991) 64 kg (1993–1997) 62 kg (1998–2017) 67 kg (2018–)

World Champions in Weightlifting – Men's Featherweight

60 kg (1906–1991)
64 kg (1993–1997)
62 kg (1998–2017)
67 kg (2018–)

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